Behind the scenes of an alum’s adventures in politics and acting

Meet multitalented Emily, an actor and political campaigner. Emily has starred in various acclaimed stages, TV and film roles, from Humans to The Inbetweeners 2.

Offscreen, Emily is also an interpersonal communications consultant, using her creative talents to help clients find their voice. Here, she delves into the inspiration behind her characters, making key connections at King’s, and her take on the art of real conversation.

Getting in character

‘How people communicate and connect with each other has always been a focus of my work. At King’s, I had the chance to travel and talk to people as part of my dissertation research. The skills I gained helped me in my acting work.

‘As an actor, your most important tool is how you connect with people. There is a common misconception that acting is about pretending, but really it’s about truth. Even when I spent three years playing a sentient robot in Humans, I had to find a way of believing it. It was a challenge to express myself without vocal range and body language.

‘When I’m working on a character, I start with how they listen to others. Even in the most far-fetched situations, I have to find a way of believing I am that character. I don’t want to just pretend to be something I’m not. This might sound ironic coming from an actor!’

From King’s to the House of Commons

‘The lessons I learned at King’s also influenced my political career. When I worked in Parliament, I would wonder what communication support there was for MPs, who are required to deliver complex information in high-pressure situations.

‘When I studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I discovered that you can gain and develop communications skills with practice. Both in acting and other areas of work, I am repeatedly reminded that expressing yourself should feel creative and enjoyable.’

Putting theory into practice

‘The concept of communication skills often brings up fears of addressing an audience or contributing to big meetings. However, most of our everyday interactions aren’t through delivered speeches. I think it is far more important that we can express ourselves effectively in day-to-day situations.

‘As such, I’ve never been a fan of the classic “public speaking” style of training. Over the years, I’ve developed a more "usable" approach, led by the creativity I bring as an actor.’

Finding your own style of self-expression

‘I’ve worked on these skills with children, teenagers, high-level executives, teachers, people recently released from prison, corporate teams and creatives.

‘Last year, I accompanied Sir Keir Starmer and The Right Honourable Bridget Phillipson on a school visit to discuss the importance of creativity and self-expression (part of a Labour-led initiative to take this work into schools, helping children to communicate face-to-face and to be comfortable in their own style of self-expression).

‘Soft skills often don’t get the status they deserve. Looking at how the world is being run, it’s clearer than ever that we need people who can listen, challenge and lead effectively. These skills should be developed from a young age.

‘Nobody should feel there is a “right way” to do it. What matters is finding a method that works for you. I believe these skills shouldn’t just be for the privileged few or for those who are naturally confident. We need a world full of people who can say what they think. Equally importantly, we need people who know how to listen.’